This is a lesson about elemental spectra. Learners will compare known elemental spectra with spectra of Titan and Saturn’s rings from a spectrometer aboard the NASA Cassini spacecraft. They identify the elements visible in the planetary and lunar...(View More) spectra. The activity is part of Project Spectra, a science and engineering program for middle-high school students, focusing on how light is used to explore the Solar System.(View Less)

This is an activity about the discovery of water ice on Mars. Learners will create physical models using Earth samples to answer the question, "is it more likely that high altitude regions of Mars are composed of icy dirt (with ice filling the pore...(View More) space of soils) or dirty ice (with dust sprinkled through a mostly icy surface)?" Included are teacher and student guides and a powerpoint with gamma ray spectrophotometric imagery of the North Arctic of Mars. This is the 3rd of 5 activities in Buried Water Ice on Mars.(View Less)

In this activity, student teams design and conduct a scientific investigation in which they explore the conditions necessary for life. They conduct observations of environmental conditions both indoor and outdoor, and determine the range of...(View More) variation they see. They compare these data with published temperature data for Earth, Mars, Pluto and Venus. The activity supports inquiry into the real world challenge of searching for life in extreme environments. The resource includes several student data sheets, data table and images, and a teacher's guide. Materials needed for this activity include weather instruments (e.g., thermometers, barometers, anemometers). This is Activity A of two activities in the first module, titled "Temperature variations and habitability," of the resource, "Earth Climate Course: What Determines a Planet's Climate?" The course aims to help students to develop an understanding of our environment as a system of human and natural processes that result in changes that occur over various space and time scales.(View Less)

This is a lesson about the Genesis mission. Learners are provided background information about the Genesis mission and the three basic types of solar wind that are being detected by the Genesis Ion Monitor (GIM) and Genesis Electron Monitor (GEM).

This lesson is about cost limitations on mission design. Learners will be given a budget of $150,000 and an approved subcontractor list that has a listing of the materials and costs for construction. This is activity 6 of 7 in "Dynamic Design:...(View More) Launch and Propulsion."(View Less)

This activity is about planetary distances. Learners will create a model of the solar system using beads and string, and compare planetary sizes using common types of fruit and seeds. The lesson models scientific inquiry using the 5E instructional...(View More) model and includes teacher notes and vocabulary.(View Less)

This is a lesson about describing meteorites. Learners will observe and describe physical characteristics of an edible sample in preparation for describing rock or meteorite samples. They will work cooperatively in a team setting and use both oral...(View More) and written communication skills. Objectives, activities, vocabulary words, and experimental extensions are included. This is lesson 8 of 19 in Exploring Meteorite Mysteries.(View Less)